NIRCA REGIONALS

What a start to the championship season! Both the men and the women SWEPT at Regionals, both taking first, and setting themselves up for great performances at Nationals! Hopefully you kept up via instagram with Claudia's amazing instagram takeover!!

A strong showing of the women's team with Dasha Vorontsov, snagging 1st place with a time of 21:23 and putting the Cows in a great spot to win. She was followed up by Leah Remiker(3rd), with a time of 22:33, Anna Nguyen(4th), with a time of 22:43, Claire Matthai(6th), with a time of 23:14, and Maya Winfield(11th), with a time of 24:01!!

A strong showing of the men helped to propel the cows to a Regionals win as well. Mason Weber(4th) led off that charge as a freshman, with a time of 25:53, and was backed up by Adam Kitay(5th), with a time of 25:59. Then, Jacob Alejandro(8th) with a strong finish of 26:13, Felix Boening(10th) with a time of 26:17, and Tony Comacho(12th) with a time of 26:23!

Photos and Results

Senior Spotlight:

1. Introduce yourself!!

My name is Stephanie (or Steph:) ) and I am a senior majoring in Psychology hoping to pursue a career in school psychology

2. What initially drew you to join the Wisconsin Track Club, and how did you get involved?

During my freshman year, I realized how much I missed being a part of a team and competing. I still wanted to run for fun but also make more running friends and have the chance to compete again. I started researching clubs and found WTC and decided to try it out my sophomore year, and I am so glad I did and regret not joining the club sooner! Despite feeling a bit overwhelmed arriving at the first day of practice, everyone was just so welcoming and right off the bat I felt like part of the team. Throughout the years, I’ve met so many amazing people and have gotten opportunities to compete and give back to the community through volunteering! As a senior, I’ve also been able to talk to some of the newer cows to help them feel more welcome like what I experienced when I first joined.

3. What was your most memorable moment with the Wisconsin Track Club, and why did it stand out to you?

There are just too many to choose from! If I really had to pick one, I would have to go with NIRCA Nationals my sophomore year track season. This was one of my first overnight meets with the club and was probably the most fun I’ve had traveling with the cows. So many people on our team went to this meet and it was such a cool experience not only racing with my friends but cheering on everyone during their events!

4. What will you miss most about the club + cross country?

The people! I’ve met some of my closest friends through the club and the people there are what motivate me to show up to practice and keep putting in the effort to get better. As for cross country specifically, I just love the energy that comes with warming up together, doing our pre-race cheer, and starting the same race as one big team.

5. What advice would you give current or future WTC members?

For current cows, be present and cherish the moments you have with the club. I know that sounds really cliché but those times (and race times hehe) go by so much faster than you might expect.

For future cows, get involved and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone! There are so many opportunities to get involved in the club and get to know your fellow cows, whether it’s volunteering, going to a social event, running for a board position, or even just striking up a conversation with someone new at practice. Make new friends and put yourself out there!

The breadstick eating competition

In the hallowed halls of Olive Garden, a legendary battle unfolded—one that will echo in the annals of breadstick lore for eternity. Ashton Yarrington, a seasoned warrior of wheat, rose to glory, devouring an astonishing 21 breadsticks atop his entire entrée and a plate of salad, shattering the WTC record in an epic feat of gastronomic prowess. But freshman rookie Luke Baustert was hot on his heels, consuming 17 breadsticks, his entrée, and a salad to claim 3rd place all-time in a debut performance that stunned the crowd. Legends were born that day, and the breadsticks shall never be forgotten.

Ashton's Race: 29:05

Luke's Race: 28:44

Words from the Breadstick Champion himself:

"Olive Garden has to start looking out for me because I’m going to start putting them out of business with how many breadsticks I eat. The 21 breadsticks was definitely a challenge but I completed it for a new WTC record! Somehow the breadsticks didn’t inhibit my race the next day either because I ran one of my fastest races ever!" -Ashton Yarrington

Here's some words from another WTC Member:

"The breadsticks allowed me to transcend the walls of this sacred establishment and imagine I was being rowed down a serene Venetian canal. Fantastic Service" -Claire Matthai

Upcoming Meets:

It's all down to this. We have one meet left this year, and its the big one. NIRCA Nationals is coming up quick!

NIRCA Nationals - Hershey, Pennsylvania

The culmination of our cross country season - nationals! There will be a championship race for our top 7 fastest runners, but there are also open races for everyone to participate in! You will need to have raced at either Border Battle or NIRCA Regionals in order to race here. This is another overnight meet, we will stay two nights. Also, NIRCA runners will be gifted $15 off for Hershey Park!